Ellen Jeanette Poloncak
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We are saddened to announce the death of our beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, & Great-Grandmother, Ellen Jeanette Poloncak, who passed away on July 12, 2018. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on May 2nd 2016. Cancer is an ugly disease, but she went through it with grace and strength. She fought hard and had baffled most physicians when she lived another 2 years after diagnosis. She fought to stay with the people that mattered to her most and they were with her every step of the way. Ellen lead a very fulfilling and jubilant life with her family and friends and touched so many lives with her kindness in the short time she was given.
Ellen was brought into the world on November 10th 1950 and was welcomed into heaven on July 12th 2018. She was a devout Catholic and believed in something greater than what can be seen or heard. She had faith in everything and everyone, even when it was not easy. She lived as an example of pure unconditional selfless love. She married the love of her life; her high school sweetheart, Jerome “Jerry” Poloncak on April 20th 1968 at 18 years old. He was her rock, her sense of peace, and her best friend for all the days of her life. They raised 3 beautiful children together. Their first child, Kimberly Poloncak, was born on October 11th 1968. They then had their first son, Jeffrey Poloncak, on November 22nd 1974, and Theron Poloncak on May 26th 1977. The 5 of them were quite a team. The family purchased their first home on Grover Avenue in Hammond, Indiana and there the love only grew stronger. They stood by each other through the trials and tribulations of life and made many cherished memories together.
As time went by, Ellen’s first grandchild came into the world. She loved being a grandmother and hearing the pitter-patter of little feet again. Her love for her grandchildren was a love without condition. She was the type of grandma you dream about, she loved you from the tip top of your head down to your little pinky toes. She was always happy to see you and was always proud of you no matter how small the accomplishment. She gave the best hugs and told you how wonderful and important you were to her. She showed us what it was to love. She taught us how to be silly, and to always tell the truth, and not to forget to wash your hands before dinner. She taught you that you could do anything you wanted as long as you worked hard. She was a spectacular example of how to be a wife, mother, and friend. She had 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who deeply miss their very loved and cherished Nana.
Her life was not always easy, but she made it look effortless and conquered everything in her way. She was the definition of strong, and she was as beautiful as she was smart. To say she was an inspiration is an understatement; all who knew her understood how remarkable she was. She ascended as an angel, to show us all that there is no defeat in death, only transcendence. The family Ellen and Jerry started has grown from a small seed of love and has blossomed into the many warm, loving, and kind hearts that miss her dearly today. She will be waiting for us in heaven with open arms, until we can be together again. We hope you will join us in celebrating the magnificent soul that she was and to wish her well on her next journey.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church, 3200 S. Cooper Rd., Chandler, AZ 85286. Family will greet friends for a visitation at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms, 22425 E. Cloud Rd., Queen Creek, AZ 85142.
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Ruby Ochoa says: The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars..the house…the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
My deepest condolences and love for you and your family, I wish that I only got to meet this wonderful woman but this says it all she most certainly lived her dash! All my love, Ruby and Family
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Mary says:
To the Poloncak family, my heartfelt condolences for your loss of your loved one. As you cope with your loss, may you find comfort in knowing that God promises to put an end to all the things that have plagued mankind for centuries including pain and death (Revelation 21:3,4). May these promises from God’s word, the Bible give you comfort now and real hope for the future. My deepest sympathy.
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Fred Morganthaler says:
I just learned of Ellen’s passing. My prayers go out to you my ‘ol friend Jerry and the Poloncak family.
Ruby Ochoa 
Mary 
Fred Morganthaler
The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars..the house…the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
My deepest condolences and love for you and your family, I wish that I only got to meet this wonderful woman but this says it all she most certainly lived her dash! All my love, Ruby and Family
To the Poloncak family, my heartfelt condolences for your loss of your loved one. As you cope with your loss, may you find comfort in knowing that God promises to put an end to all the things that have plagued mankind for centuries including pain and death (Revelation 21:3,4). May these promises from God’s word, the Bible give you comfort now and real hope for the future. My deepest sympathy.
I just learned of Ellen’s passing. My prayers go out to you my ‘ol friend Jerry and the Poloncak family.